This is an entertaining and helpful story in the Franklin the Turtle series by Paulette Bourgeois. I'm not sure why we never really got into this series (after all, we love turtles!) Now our girls are getting a bit old for stories like this, so I'm not sure how many more we'll read.

I found this book available in an ebook version through our local library and I decided that I would read it, even if our girls weren't interested. Our girls were willing to let me read it to them, and even though it'This is an entertaining and helpful story in the Franklin the Turtle series by Paulette Bourgeois. I'm not sure why we never really got into this series (after all, we love turtles!) Now our girls are getting a bit old for stories like this, so I'm not sure how many more we'll read.

I found this book available in an ebook version through our local library and I decided that I would read it, even if our girls weren't interested. Our girls were willing to let me read it to them, and even though it's probably best for younger children, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they enjoyed the story as much as I did. I know our oldest could relate to the story, since she had a difficult and slow time learning to ride her bicycle.

The illustrations are cartoonish and colorful and the narrative is short and engaging. I will certainly look for more ebooks in this series, even if I have to read them on my own. ...more

Overcome by shame, Franklin ultimately seizes his life back from his crippling fears by wearing protective gear. Think about that for a second. A turtle puts on protective gear to get over his apprehension about riding a bike. Franklin is living protective gear!

Nice bits about beavers failing at monkey bars, badgers not being decent swimmers, foxes being pinch hitters, and porcupines rollerblading. These obvious metaphors for subcultures in Western society are hilarious yet insightful.

Franklin Rides a Bike features the friendly Franklin in a new adventure. This time all his friends have already taken their training wheels off, and Franklin wants to join them. He is, however, still Franklin, and as envious he is of his friends, he is too apprehensive to work on it and wants to be able to do it automatically without practice.

This is probably the Franklin book I like the most just for the sentiment. I like the message that you need to put effort in to get results, and that peoplFranklin Rides a Bike features the friendly Franklin in a new adventure. This time all his friends have already taken their training wheels off, and Franklin wants to join them. He is, however, still Franklin, and as envious he is of his friends, he is too apprehensive to work on it and wants to be able to do it automatically without practice.

This is probably the Franklin book I like the most just for the sentiment. I like the message that you need to put effort in to get results, and that people all have different experiences and we shouldn't be envious of them. My son thought it was sweet that Franklin could ride off with his friends. I'm also happy that Franklin and his friends were all wearing helmets. My boy did wonder why a turtle who has a shell also needed a helmet though!...more

In the Spring, all of Franklin's friends are riding bikes with their training wheels on. Soon, though, they are all learning to ride on their own except Franklin and he's embarrassed to ride with his friends because he still needs them. Good lesson on how children develop differently and some take longer to learn some things than others.

This was the perfect book to read to my 5-year-old who is ready to stop using his training wheels but is still afraid. When Franklin fell after taking off his training wheels, he was ready to quit riding his bike entirely but his mother encouraged him. Even though he struggled, he never gave up.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bourgeois graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 1974. She was a psychiatric occupational therapist for three years before deciding to focus on her writing. She studied journalism at Carlton University then worked as a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Television. She became a freelance journalBorn in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bourgeois graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 1974. She was a psychiatric occupational therapist for three years before deciding to focus on her writing. She studied journalism at Carlton University then worked as a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Television. She became a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C. contributing pieces to Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Reader's Digest and Maclean's. She returned to Toronto in 1983.

In 2003, she became a Member of the Order of Canada and in 2007, she received an Honourary Doctor of Laws from her alma mater, the University of Western Ontario....more